About the job

Job summary

Delivering excellent public services is a critical function of the Government, within the SAS team we are at the forefront of change and champion continuous improvement. We are looking for someone to play a key role in the Strategy, Communications, Standards and Oversight team, where you will be supporting and advising on some of the most priority projects at the heart of Government.

You will support the Programme and Reporting Manager to track and improve delivery of the government’s top priorities, by gathering regular reporting and intelligence on a range of priority projects and programmes across the team, establishing this as a single source of the truth across government, using data science to review and track progress, and making recommendations to enable fully informed decisions.

Reporting to the Programme and Reporting Manager, you will assist and take the lead with the planning, management and delivery of the teams projects ensuring alignment with the strategic priorities and timelines.

You will both assist with planning, risk and issue management, stakeholder engagement and governance to drive and monitor the delivery of the business plan.
Working closely with the Communications and Strategy Lead you will bring pace and value to the team's delivery plan, collaborate across boundaries and deploy your sound diverse skills to track, report and monitor progress whilst managing business change.

Job description

• Support the Strategy, Communications, Standards and Oversight team to ensure that they have the right tools, data and information to undertake their activities.
• Directly support the Deputy Director in ensuring that all external and internal data commissions are planned in and timescales are met, information for upcoming meetings is prepared and signed off in advance.
• Support the Deputy Director in managing team performance and in making informed decisions by providing accurate data and information across the portfolio’s various projects.
• Recruitment and onboarding - including monitoring vacancies, advertising, obtaining the appropriate departmental approvals, arranging interviews, securing technology and arranging access to systems and buildings etc.
• Supporting and where appropriate leading the production of the programme performance updates, plans, activity charts and milestone maps.
• Produce briefing materials such as updates, progress reports and MI dashboards for consumption up to Perm Sec level.
• Ensure continuous improvement and development of all PMO processes taking advantage of available technology particularly Jira and Power BI.
• Arrange and manage weekly team meetings. producing minutes, tracking actions, booking rooms, board packs etc.
• Assist and Lead where appropriate with the establishment of any new projects and all associated processes including monitoring and reporting.
• Provide Project Management support across the team as defined by the Deputy Director.

Person specification

• Ability to operate efficiently in a fast paced, programme environment and deliver to strict deadlines and targets.
• Ability to assimilate and analyse information and data and other sources, to then communicate concisely, often with colleagues – in various reporting formats.
• Writing presentations, reports and submissions and/or briefings at pace.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely and with high impact.
• Demonstration of experience of developing and delivering to project and programme processes and engaging/persuading others to do the same.
• High level of literacy and numeracy and ability to analyse financial data.
• High level of IT literacy including knowledge of spreadsheet applications.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,850, Cabinet Office contributes £11,029 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Application process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, 250 word personal statement and 250 word behavioural statements. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

A CV detailing your history, skills and qualifications which will be scored and used to assess experience.

A Personal statement to demonstrate how they meet all of the behaviours and desired criteria outlined above. The word limit for the personal statement is 250 words.

Candidates will be sifted on behavioural statement, CV, and personal statement. 

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead behaviour, Managing a Quality Service. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Desirable criteria will only be used in the event of a tie break.

Selection process

The format of the interview will be on the behaviours listed on the advert. There may be a presentation as part of the interview process.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – w/c 18th December
Expected interview date/s – 8th January
Interview location - Video call via Google Meets

Reasonable adjustments

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional. 

Further information

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years’ UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out. 

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.